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New episodes are posted weekly on Wednesdays by 12:00pm Eastern (9am Pacific)

Next Episode: Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994) on March 21st, 2018.

Check out our advertisement in the January 2018 issue of G-Fan Magazine!

Episodes of Kaijuvision Radio have 3 parts:

Part 1: A short description (not a summary) of the movie. It’s an analysis tailored to kaiju movies, to arm the listener with the facts. At last, a way to compare these movies to each other.

Part 2: With the facts out of the way, we discuss the movie and give our opinions.

Part 3: A brand new, one-of-a-kind fusion of international affairs and movie analysis. Japan-related topic(s) either brought up by the movie, or going on at the time the movie was released. Topics are historical, political, economic, or cultural.

We give one Kaijuvision Radio T-shirt to donors at Patreon who donate at the Kaiju Visionary level ($10/month or more) for 4 straight months.

The shirt is black, and it has our official logo on the front, our slogan and QR code to our website on the back, and our web address on the sleeves. The shirts are from Gildan. Logo design by Tyler Sowles.

In 2016 and 2017, Brian and Nate spent a lot of time developing our original, signature, audience-focused film descriptions – an analysis tailored to kaiju movies in order to be able to compare these movies to each other. The goal is to to arm the listener with the facts, rather than just read a long, boring plot synopsis from a wiki site. Quick, focused, and to the point, the descriptions last an average of 5 minutes. In our first behind-the-scenes bonus feature, we discuss the process behind our state-of-the-art creation.

Godzilla not only looks great in this movie, but he gets more screen time than any other movie in the entire series. Baby Godzilla looks impressive, and the Azusa Gojo character is good. Brian and Nate address topics, like how stuff explodes when Rodan flies over it, how Kazuma seems to be a Japanese Rick Moranis, and how Miki Saegusa needed to be reminded to use her psychic powers. Our related topic is the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

Our trek through the Heisei Series continues! After watching experimental weirdness and convoluted time-travel, Nate and Brian cover a Godzilla film that’s a bit more “normal”—for this franchise, anyway. It’s the most successful film in the Heisei Series, and we see more positives than negatives in this 1990s update of the classics. The movie features Akira Takarada, the return of Mothra, a weaponized Ferris wheel, and scenes ripping off Indiana Jones (the last one drives Nate crazy). We also compare Battra to Mirror Universe Spock. Our related topics are contemporary environmentalism and the Lost Decade. For the video version of this podcast, check out our YouTube channel.

We’d like to send a shout-out to our patrons Kyoei Toshi and Sean Stiff for pledging at the Kaiju Visionary level. Thank you for your support! We really appreciate it.

Filmed and released during the Japanese stock market crash, this movie perfectly captures the Japanese national spirit at the time it was made. In 1991, just like after World War II ended, the Japanese people collectively asked “How could this happen?” In fact, Miki Saegusa says that herself. While the symbolism isn’t very subtle either, this movie is not anti-American. Our related topics are nationalism and the US-Japan difficulties reaching a peak regarding trade.

This film was released in late 1991, and if you can find that year on this graph of the Japanese Nikkei 225 stock market average, you will notice that’s at a very pivotal and scary time for Japan.

Are the Showa series movies simple, or are they really just focused? Are the Heisei movies creative, or are they just complex? As Godzilla fans, we want these movies to be better than they are. Nate and Brian dissect this experimental Godzilla film featuring a rare plant kaiju. Listen as Brian cracks jokes to maintain his sanity and Nate sings quirky show tunes (badly). Our related topics are the Human Genome Project, the death of Emperor Hirohito & ascension of Akihito, and Japan becoming a major non-NATO ally.

Brian and Nate tackle the “Americanized” version of The Return of Godzilla brought to us thanks to the wonderful Roger Corman (just kidding—we watch MST3K). Not even the great Raymond Burr can save this controversial film or give it a reason to exist. Listen as your intrepid hosts (politely) savage this version of the film with some well-honed riffs. Our related topics are the Japanese Asset Price Bubble, Japan Airlines Flight 123, and the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident.

We begin our two-month journey into the Heisei series of Godzilla movies. Listen as Nate and Brian elevate this unforgettable and well-made film by explaining how Japan was in the middle of the Cold War tension of the early 80s. Our related topics are the acceleration of the Cold War, NATO’s Able Archer exercise, Korean Air Lines Flight 007, and the Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident.

We’d like to send a shout-out to our patrons Kyoei Toshi and Sean Stiff for pledging at the Kaiju Visionary level. Thank you for your support! We really appreciate it.

The Showa Series (and ‘70s month) comes to an end in this week’s episode, wherein Nate gushes over one of his favorite Godzilla films. This is a “dark™” melodrama with complex characters, lots of explosions, incredible kaiju action—and alien invaders who almost undermine the movie’s tone. Listen as Nate argues the film’s merits to Brian by connecting it to C.S. Lewis (you read that right!). Since this is the final entry in the Showa Series, our related topics are Emperor Showa’s first visit to the United States in 1971, his first press conference in 1975, and the Yasukuni Shrine.

The first Mechagodzilla film is roughly a spoof of James Bond and a twist on The Planet of the Apes, only the apes are alien invaders! The soundtrack fits like a glove to this gloriously campy and fun movie, made to celebrate Godzilla’s 20th anniversary. Because this movie features an Okinawan kaiju, King Caesar, our related topic is the history and culture of Okinawa. Join Nate and Brian as they continue on with 70s Month – every 70s movie in the series in just one month. This episode is dedicated to Shinichi Sekizawa.

For a long time, this movie retained a part where the director said “Action” at the beginning of a scene. That fact is an indication that this movie was rushed as well as a bit careless, but it’s not all bad – and it can be funny. So funny in fact, it was a popular episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Brian and Nate discuss the infamous car chase, Easter Island, superhero wrestling action, and everything else about this glorious train-wreck. Our related topic is the history and effects of nuclear testing.